Unmanned

Unmanned aerial systems, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance: More and more these assets are powering military operations and informing decision-making.

South Korea to deploy laser weapons to intercept North Korean drones

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said it will deploy at least one anti-air laser weapons system — called “Block-I” — this year.

12 days ago

A West Coast-based naval special warfare operator fires a Switchblade 300 Lethal Miniature Aerial Munition System during a training exercise.

Australia takes aim with US-made loitering munitions

AeroVironment's Switchblade 300 has a 3.69-pound (1.68 kg) warhead and 19-mile (30 km) range in its latest Block 20 variant.

13 days ago

Robotics

Germany to help procure drones for Ukraine, Pistorius says

The country will present a plan for NATO to buy drones “from German industry” on behalf of the Ukrainian armed forces, Pistorius said.

Ukraine industry chief sees bumper year for land-based drones

Kyiv's head of strategic industries said that the push for ground robotics was part of a bigger bet on "defense tech."

14 days ago

Navy tests using drones for medical supply deliveries during RIMPAC

A Navy warship launched and recovered six drones used to deliver vital supplies and take the burden off manned aircraft.

2 weeks ago

NATO tests counter-drone playbook amid real-life jamming in Romania

Alliance officials encountered enemy GPS spoofing and jamming at an exercise site on the Black Sea shore.

2 weeks ago

Zelenskyy seeks relaxed target limits within Russia amid bombardment

Glide bombs are heavy Soviet-era bombs fitted with precision guidance systems and launched from aircraft flying out of range of air defenses.

3 weeks ago

Russia warns of possible response to US drone flights over Black Sea

Russia’s Defense Ministry says officials have been ordered to prepare a response to U.S. drone flights over the Black Sea.

4 weeks ago

US Central Command to demo integrated counter drone sensors this fall

CENTCOM will stage a U.S.-based exercise in October focused on spotting UAS threats followed by a second demo in theater early next year.

4 weeks ago

Dronemaker Skydio hiring team in Ukraine amid strategy shift

The war in Ukraine is the first to feature widespread use of small, commercial style drones.

4 weeks ago

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks begins her keynote speech Sept. 6, 2023, at the Defense News Conference in Pentagon City.

Pentagon to identify next Replicator capability set this summer

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said the Pentagon plans to propose Replicator 2.0 funding in its fiscal 2026 budget.

4 weeks ago

Boeing’s aircraft woes drive drone focus at Leonardo facility

Leonardo had told unions in Rome that the plant at Grottaglie would need to shut down for four months.

4 weeks ago

European gun makers trial small arms as drone stoppers

Makers of shotguns and machine guns are finding new ways to target unmanned aerial vehicles on the cheap.

4 weeks ago

Ukrainian drones, missiles kill 6 in Russia and Crimea

The Ukrainian Navy ralso eleased photos Sunday that it says confirm the destruction of a warehouse in Russia used to launch Iranian-designed Shahed drones.

4 weeks ago

Army to buy more than 1,000 Switchblade drones through Replicator

The Army’s vice chief of staff, revealed the quantity for the first time during a June 21 House Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing.

4 weeks ago

Lawmakers urge Defense Innovation Unit to partner with Israel, Taiwan

The provisions call for DIU to establish a “strategic partnership” with each country to coordinate on industrial priorities and dual-use tech development.

5 weeks ago

US approves loitering munitions sale for Taiwan’s ‘porcupine strategy’

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency approvals include 291 Altius 600M-V loitering munitions from Anduril, plus 720 Switchblade 300s from AeroVironment.

5 weeks ago

Small drones will soon lose combat advantage, French Army chief says

He cited the example of the Bayraktar drone, “the king of the war” at the start of the conflict in Ukraine, that is no longer being used.

5 weeks ago

Chinese military’s rifle-toting robot dogs raise concerns in Congress

Lawmakers want U.S. military officials to examine the threat posed by new Chinese robot dogs armed with rifles.

5 weeks ago